Back up on Sparks Street today, a block south of Parliament Hill. The pedestrian mall starts off at Elgin, across from the War Memorial, where a sculpture stands. This statue of a bear is a formidable one, and a common photo op for visitors. Now if only we could convince someone to get rid of that backdrop behind it...
Very close by on Sparks is the Post Office, the original main office here in Ottawa. Lions guard each entrance.
Come to think of it, lions are a pretty common theme in this city....
The backdrop isn't THAT bad! That's a beautiful P.O. and lions are quite common in regal matters...
ReplyDeleteAnd impressive looking lions they are. Love the tour of your City.
ReplyDeleteThe bear is terrific, and I totally agree with you about the backdrop - needs to be in a park, or at least by a tree or something. George VI's lions..?
ReplyDeletelove the bear and the lions...the backdrop, not so much!
ReplyDeleteLions are good :)
ReplyDeleteI love the lions, they are so regal and proud. When I visited Italy last year, I saw lots and lots of lions. They seemed to be the mascot of every town.
ReplyDelete@Ciel: it's the structure right behind it that I don't care for... if they'd placed it a few feet down the street, so much the better.
ReplyDelete@Lauren: thank you!
@Mike: I think so, looking at the closeup of the crest. The building's older than George VI, but the lions might date back to his time. He did visit here early on in his kingship.
@Tanya: these things are here and there on the street, a mix of ads and guides to the stores and restaurants on Sparks.
@Grace: they are quite appealing!
@Sharon: They make for good symbols, and they can be found in the oddest of places.
That poor bear does have a busy backdrop, doesn't it? Oh well, I'm glad that didn't stop you from taking a photo of it.
ReplyDeleteLions... check. Bear... check. Where is the tiger?
ReplyDeleteYou're right - the bear needs more space around him!
ReplyDeleteThe Bear and the Lions - sounds like a pretty good movie! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to know why that beautiful sculpture has been put up so close to a building, out of respect to the artist and admirers who would want to circle this wild creature, not too closely.
The lions are really quite regal, the sculptor managed to imbue them with real character.
Love the lion!
ReplyDelete@EG: I'd have to sum up the backdrop as clutter!
ReplyDelete@Stuart: the closest tiger I could possibly think of would be in Chinatown!
@RedPat: At least twenty feet of empty space behind him!
@Merisi: many times I pass by that sculpture, and there are people taking pics. You'd think the area managers would have taken a hint and moved that backdrop.
@Norma: shall we name them Aslan?
Oh wow, that first one is formidable indeed! I love the lion too:)
ReplyDeleteIt seems the city is full of wild creatures, thankfully in sculpture and stone.
ReplyDeleteThe bear looks fun but intimidating. The lions look less scary.
ReplyDeleteI love those lions!!
ReplyDeleteIs that polar bear still around?
@LondonLulu: I've taken a different shot of that bear that'll be coming up soon!
ReplyDelete@Beatrice: sometimes those creatures are in the oddest places.
@Linda: they simply look grim!
@Hamilton: I'll have to see if the grounds where that polar bear is positioned is accessible to the public.